Wire processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an improved wire processing apparatus for making electric wire leads and harnesses including the cutting of the wire or wires, the cutting and stripping of the insulation from the end portions thereof, and the assembly of the components including the connection of the terminals thereto. The apparatus includes spaced head mechanisms each including wire cutting and insulation cutting and stripping means, and terminal securing means, and which holds the wire throughout the operation of these means. Cooperating with the head mechanisms is one or more wire feed means each of which moves through one of the head mechanisms to position and end portion of a wire in another of the head mechanisms and then returns through said one of the head mechanisms to position another portion of the wire in said one of the head mechanisms.

[ Feb. 12, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to animproved wire processing apparatus for making. electric wire leads andharnesses including the cutting of the wire or wires, the cutting andstripping of the insulation from the end portions thereof. and theassembly of the components including the connection of the terminalsthereto. The apparatus includes spaced head mechanisms each includingwire cutting and insulation cutting and stripping means, and terminalsecuring WIRE PROCESSING APPARATUS Inventor: Robert M. Dyksterhouse, RR3,

Charlevoix, Mich. 49720 Filed: Dec. 26, 1972 Appl. No.: 318,102

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 195,165, Nov. 3,197], Pat. No.

U.S. 29/203 P 1 States Patent 1 1 yltsterhouse means, and which holdsthe wire throughout the operation of these means. Cooperating with thehead mechanisms is one or more wire feed means each of which movesthrough one of the head mechanisms to position and end portion of a wirein another of the head mechanisms and then returns through said one ofthe head mechanisms to position another portion of m m 1 A d m 1 an 1 iQ a r iIL, e a I 2 a 1 .1. h m ..i

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11 1 we mm (Ll. rl 33 PA Patented Feb. 12, 1974 a $391,008

12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Feb. 12, 1974 3,791,008

12 Sheets-Sheet 2 W [FL/J27 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 i I W atented Feb. 12,1974 Patented Feb. 12, 1974 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 12, 19743,791,008

12 Sheets-Sheet S l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 l h l l l uwulr H lLnl? PatentedFeb. 12, 1974 l2 Sheets-Sheet 7 4 I z f Z E Patented Feb. 12, 1974 12Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Feb. 12, 1974 3,79Lfl8 l2 Sheets-Sheet 9Patented Feb. 12, 1974 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 O Patented Feb. 12, 1974 12Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented Feb. 12, 1974 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 WIREPROCESSING APPARATUS This is a division of application Ser. No. 195,165,filed Nov. 3, 1971, US. Pt. No. 3,742,564.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved apparatus of the above mentioned type in which thewire is held throughout the cutting of the wire, the cutting andstripping of the insulation, the placing of the wire in the terminalsand the securing of the terminals thereto.

It is also an object to provide an improved apparatus of the abovementioned type including a pair of head mechanisms the distance betweenwhich controls the length of the lead to be made and a feed nozzlemovable through one of the head mechanisms for positioning a length ofwire between said head mechanisms in position to be held thereby and inwhich the nozzle returns through the same head mechanism to grip thewire between the length of wire to be. cut by the head mechanisms andthe source of supply.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such animproved wire processing apparatus in which the distance between thehead mechanisms is readily adjustable for varying the length of the wirelead.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved headmechanism for a wire processing apparatus including improved wirecutting and insulation cutting and stripping means and improved terminalsecuring means and which holds the wire securely throughout theoperation of these means.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improvedwire feed mechanism for a wire processing apparatus and an improvednozzle assembly through which the wire extends at all times.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such animproved head mechanism adapted to secure a plurality of wires to asingle terminal.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such animproved wire processing apparatus including a combining unit adapted toposition a plurality of wires for connection to a single terminal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a wireprocessing apparatus an improved head having improved means for cuttingthe insulation and stripping it from the wire.

1 A further object is to provide improved means for positioning the wirein the terminal to be attached thereto and for attaching the terminal tothe wire.

Other and more detailed objects of the present invention will beappreciated from a consideration of the following specification, theappended claims and the accompanying drawings throughout the severalviews of which like reference characters designate like parts andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a broken perspective view of an embodiment of the inventionadapted to make a single wire lead having a terminal secured to each endthereof;

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a wire lead which may be made by theapparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view of thestructure illustrated in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow 2;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure illustrated inFIG. 2 taken substantially along the line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 3taken substantially along the line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a broken reduced side elevational view of the structureillustrated in FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow 5;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse horizontal sectional view of thestructure illustrated in FIG. 5 taken substantially along the line 5-5thereof;

FIG. 7 is a broken enlarged elevational view of the wire feed mechanismillustrated in FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow 7;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational view of the cut and strip assemblyillustrated in FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow 8 andshowing the assembly in the open position;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the cut and strip assembly illustrated in FIG.8 but showing the parts in their closed position;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 8, showing the assemblyin its closed position;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section view of the structure illustrated inFIG. 10 taken substantially along the line 11-1l thereof;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of one of the wire cutter blades of thecut and strip assembly;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the blade illustrated in FIG. 12 takensubstantially along the line 13l3 thereof;

FIG. 14 is an elevational view of one of the insulation cutting andstripping blades of the cut and strip assemy;

FIG. 15 is a broken enlarged elevational view of the right hand endportion of the blade illustrated in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an end elevational view of the blade illustrated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged elevational view of the terminal crimping andcutting assembly looking in the direction of the arrow 17 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 18 is a vertical sectional view of the structure illustrated inFIG. 17 taken substantially along the line 18-18 thereof;

FIG. 19 is a view partially in section and partially in elevationlooking at the rear of theterminal crimping and cutting assembly as seenin FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 19taken substantially along the line 2020 thereof;

FIG. 21 is a broken perspective view of a modified embodiment of theinvention adapted to produce a multiple wire wiring harness and showingsome parts diagrammatically;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged broken perspective view of a part of thestructure illustrated in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a broken enlarged view of the combining unit illustrated inFIG. 22 and adjacent parts and looking in the direction of the arrow 23;

FIG. 24.is a broken sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG.23 and taken substantially along the line 2424 thereof;

FIG. 25 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the structureillustrated in FIG. 24 taken substantially along the line 25-25 thereof;

FIG. 26 is a plan view of the combining unit illustrated in FIG. 23 butwith the head mechanism omitted for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 27 is an elevational view of the insulation cutting and strippingblades of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 22 in the open position andshows the wires in section;

FIG. 28 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 27 but showing the bladesin a partially closed position;

FIG. 29 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 27 but showing the bladesin the full closed position;

FIG. 30 is a broken perspective view of a simple two wire wiring harnesswhich may be made by the modified embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 21 to 32;

FIG. 31 is a broken elevational view of one of the wire feed mechanismsof this modified embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 32 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 31taken substantially along the line 32-32 thereof.

The improvements of the present invention, as will be appreciated fromthe following specification, may be embodied in an apparatus for makinga single wire lead having a terminal connected to each end or in makinga wiring harness having multiple wires having terminals selected ones ofwhich may serve to interconnect selected ones of the wires. FIGS. 1 toof the accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus embodying theimprovements of the present invention and adapted to make a single wirelead with terminals secured thereto. FIGS. 21 to 32 illustrate anapparatus also embodying the improvements of the present invention andadapted to produce a simple wiring harness including two wires and inwhich a single terminal connects the adjacent ends of the two wires andin which the other end of each of the two wires is connected to its ownindividual terminal.

Referring to FIGS. 1-20 of the drawings, the improved wire processingapparatus of the present invention there illustrated is adapted to makea single wire lead such as is generally indicated at 21 in FIG. 1A andincluding a conductor 23 covered with insulation and having terminals 34secured to the ends thereof. The apparatus generally comprises astationary head 20 and a movable head 22 which are mounted on anelongated support 24 mounted on suitable base portions 26 and 28. Theheads 20 and 22 are generally similar but oppositely facing, as seen inFIG. 1, and each includes a cut and strip assembly for cutting the wireand cutting the insulation and stripping it from an end portion of thewire, a terminal feeding assembly 32 adapted to feed the end terminal 34of a conventional terminal strip 36 into position, the terminal stripbeing carried on a reel (not shown) mounted on an arm 38 at each head.Each head also includes a terminal crimping and cutting assembly 40which crimps the terminal to the wire and to the insulation and cuts theterminal 34 from the strip 36. Also, each head includes a clamp 42 whichgrips the wire and holds it throughout the cutting, stripping andterminal crimping and cutting operations. The wire is fed to the heads20 and 22 in which it is held by the clamps 42, by a nozzle assembly 44which is carried by a shuttle assembly 46 mounted on the elongatedsupport 24 for movement therealong. As will be apparent from thefollowing description, the construction is such that the nozzle,starting from a position in which it grips the wire between thestationary head 20 and a suitable source of supply of the wire, (thatis, to the left of the head 20 as viewed in FIG. 1) moves through thestationary head 20 to position what may be called the leading end of thewire in the adjustable head 22 where is is grasped by the clamp 42thereof, and then the nozzle 44 returns through the stationary head 20to a position in which it again grips the wire between the head 20 andthe source of supply. During this return movement the shuttle stopspreliminarily when the nozzle assembly 44 has cleared the clamp 42 ofthe head 20 while the head 20 operates to close the clamp 42 thereof tohold the wire and then the shuttle 46 continues its movement to itsfinal position in which the nozzle 44 is clear of the head 20 and in theabove mentioned starting position. The operation of the heads 20 and 22cuts the wire at both ends to provide the desired length, cuts andstrips the insulation from both ends thereof and secures a terminal toeach end thereof, all while securely holding the wire in the clamps 42.

More specifically, the elongated support 24 is in the form ofa cylinderin which is mounted a piston 50 (see FIG. 3), the opposite ends of thecylinder being closed by caps 52 and 54. Bracket assemblies 56 and 58are mounted at the opposite ends of the cylinder and include connectionsso that fluid may be supplied to the cylinder 24 for moving the piston50. The bracket assemblies 56 and 58 include upper and lower members 51and 53 interconnected by screws 55 which also clamp the bracketassemblies 56 and 58 in place on the cylinder 24. A pair of cables 60and 62 each has one end secured to one end of the piston 50. The cablesextend through the cylinder end caps 52 and S4 and around the pulleys 64supported at the opposite ends of the cylinder 24 on mounting plates 57mounted on the brackets 56 and 58 and adjustable longitudinally of thecylinder 24 by means of screws 59. The other ends of the cables 60 and62 are secured to opposite ends of the shuttle assembly 46 to move theshuttle in response to movement of the piston 50.

The shuttle assembly 46, as best illustrated in FIG. 7, includes acentral bar portion 66 and is supported in a desired parallel relationto the cylinder 24 by a shuttle guide 68 which is slidably mounted onthe cylinder 24 and slidably receives and supports the shuttle bar 66,the guide 68 being held against rotation relative to the cylinder 24 bya key 70 received in a keyway 72 in the cylinder 24. The shuttleassembly 46 has bullet-nosed end sections 74 and 76 for positioning theshuttle 46 relative to the heads 20 and 22 as hereinafter described.

The nozzle assembly 44 is mounted ori one end of the shuttle bar 66 forlimited pivotal movement relative thereto by a support 78 secured to theshuttle bar 66 and having an inclined stop surface 80, and an L- shapedbracket 82 mounted on the support 78 by the cap screw 84, and carryingthe nozzle assembly 44. The bracket 82 may rotate about the axis of thescrew 84 between the position illustrated in FIG. 7 and a position inwhich the horizontal portion of the bracket 82 engages the inclined stopsurface 80. A spring 86 urges the bracket 82 to the positionillustrated. This pivoting of the nozzle assembly 44 relative to theshuttle 46 occurs during the positioning of the wire end in the terminalat the adjustable head 22 as hereinafter described.

The nozzle assembly 44 comprises a hollow body 88 (see FIG. 3) securedto the bracket 82 by screws 90. Projecting from one end of the body 88is a tubular nozzle 92 movable between the extended position illustratedand in which it is yieldably held by the spring 94 within the nozzlebody 88 and a retracted position to which it may be moved by engagementof the stop 96 which extends downwardly from the outer end thereof witha target plate 98 on the clamp 42 of the movable head 22 (see FIG. 1) toretract the nozzle 92 to expose a length of the wire adjacent theleading end of the wire as hereinafter described. The nozzle 92 is heldagainst rotation relative to the body 88 by a set screw 100 mounted onthe nozzle 92 and movable along the slot 102 in the body 88. At itsopposite end the body 88 carries a chuck housing 104 which is held inthe body 88 by a screw 106 and provides a seat for the adjacent end ofthe spring 94. The chuck housing 104 is hollow to receive the wiretherethrough and has an inclined cam surface 108 facing its interior anda jaw element 110 movable along said surface for gripping the wire. Itis urged along the surface 108 in a direction to grip the wire by aspring 112. By virtue of this construction when the nozzle assembly 44moves toward the movable head 22, or toward the left as viewed in FIGS.3 and 7, it locks to the wire and pulls it with it whereas when it movesin the opposite direction the jaw 110 moves along the surface 108 torelease the wire and the nozzle assembly moves freely along the wire. Itwill be appreciated that the improved nozzle assembly of the presentinvention may be used not only with electrical wire but with anycontinuous length of filament-like material which is desired to bedrawnfrom a coil or other source of supply and feed in the course ofprocessing.

Turning now to the heads 20 and 22, they are generally the same exceptthat the movable or adjustable head 22 is a symmetrically opposite tothe stationary head 20 which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 6. Ex-

- cept as hereinafter pointed out the following description of thestationary head 20 is accordingly equally applicable to the movable head22. Referring to these figures and initially to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, thehead 20 comprises a lower base and an upper base 122 which are securedtogether by screws 124 to mount the head on the support cylinder 24. Thelower base 120 is provided with keys 126 which are received in thekeyway 72 of the cylinder 24 to align the heads relative to each otherand relative to the shuttle guide 68. A head actuating member 128 whichis generally C-shaped, as seen in FIG. 2, is mounted on 'the bases 120and 122 for vertical sliding movement relative thereto by a verticallyextending dovetail section 130 (see FIG. 6) of the member 128 whichslides between cooperating dovetail surfaces 132 and 134 formed on thebases l20and 122 and on a dovetail gib 136 (see FIG. 5) secured to thebases by screws 138 (FIG. 2). The lower portion 140 of the member 128extends horizontally and is secured by screws 142 to the upper end of avertically disposed cylinder 144. which moves vertically relative to astationary piston (not shown) mounted on a piston 146 secured to thelower base 120 and extending downwardly therefrom through the lowerportion 140 of the actuating member 128 and into the cylinder 144.

The lower portion 140 of the actuating member 128, at the side thereoffacing the other head carries a pin 150 for actuating the clamp 42. Asbest illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 the clamp 42 comprises a pair ofscissorlike arms 152 and 154 pivotally interconnected in spaced relationto their upper ends by a pivot pin 156 which, as shown in FIG. 3, ismounted in a T-shaped slot 158 in the upper base 122. This permitsbodily movement of the clamp 42 downwardly from the upper position inwhich it is illustrated'and to which iti's urged by the springs 160, toa lower position for positioning the wire in the terminal as hereinafterdescribed. At their upper ends the arms 152 and 154 carry pads 162 forengaging the wire. Spaced below the pad 162 the arm 152, at the movablehead 22 only, carries the arcuately shaped target plate 98 extendingbetween the arms 152 and 154 (see FIG. 1). At the movable head 22 thistarget plate 98 is engaged by the stop 96 on the nozzle 92 to move thenozzle 92 into the nozzle body 88 and expose an end portion of the wirefor positioning in the head 22 for gripping by the clamp 42 thereof. Thearms 152 and 154 are each provided in their lower portions with slots166 and 168 through which the clamp actuating pin 150 extends. The slots166 and 168 are angled as shown to provide a quick closing during theinitial downward movement of actuating pin 150. The desired pressure onthe wire is maintained by coil springs 170 between the arms 152 and 154,and the pads 162. When the pin I50 reaches the lower ends of the slots166 and 168 further downward movement pulls the clamp 42 bodily downwardagainst the action of the springs 160, the pivot pin 156 movingdownwardly in the T-shaped slot 158 in the upper base 122. This downwardmovement of the clamp 42 moves the prepared wire end down into theterminal 34 to be secured thereto.

The actuating member 128 has a horizontally extending upper portionspaced above its dovetail portion 130 and carries a cam assembly 182secured thereto at the underside of the portion 180 by screws 184 and186. The cam assembly 182 actuates the cut and strip assembly 30 afterthe closing of the clamp 42 and be-' fore the downward movement thereofreferred to above, and comprises a pair of vertically disposed-parallelcam plates 188 and 190 interconnected by a spacer 192. The cam plate 188is positioned against the actuating member 128 and is located relativethereto by a key 194 received in a cooperating recess 196 formed in themember 128. The cam plates 188 and 190 have cooperating pairs of slots198 and at their lower ends the plates 188 and 190 have cooperating camsurfaces 200 and 202, respectively.

The cut and strip assembly 30 is shown in detail in FIGS. 8 to 16 and issupported on the cam plates 188 and 190 by a pair of parallelhorizontally disposed pins 204 the ends of which are received in theslots 198. The assembly 30 comprises a pair of symmetrically oppositeblade holders 206 and 208 each of which carries a wire cutter blade 210,an insulation cutter blade 212 and a spring finger 214 for knocking theinsulation, cut and stripped from the wire out of the assembly 30. Intheir inoperative condition the blade holders 206 and 208 are held inspaced or open position as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 8 by a spreader216 having cam surfaces 218 which engage cooperating cam surfaces 220 onthe blade holders 206 and 208. The blade holders 206 and 208 are movedto their closed position illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 by the camsurfaces 200 and 202 of the cam plates 188 and 190 acting againstcooperating cam surfaces 222 and 224, respectively, on the blade holders206 and 208. The blade holders are slidably mounted on the pins 204 formovement between their open and closed positions and the spreader 216 isdisposed between the pins 204. Vertical movement of the spreader 216relative to the blade holders 206 and 208 is limited by a pin 226extending between the holders 206 and 208 and disposed between and inparallel relation to the pins 204 and which extends through a verticallyextending slot 228 opening transversely through the spreader 216.

When the actuating member 128 is in its upper position illustrated, thepins 204 supporting the cut and strip assembly are at the bottom of theslots 198 and the spreader 216 has been moved to cam the blade holders206 and 208 to their open position, by a horizontal plate 230 whichextends between the cam plates 188 and 190 for engaging the spreader 216and is mounted on a sleeve 232 vertically slidable on a shaft 234 whichis mounted in a socket 236 provided in the upper base 122 and in whichit is held by a set screw 238. The sleeve 232 is yieldably urged to theupper limit of its travel by a spring 240 urging the sleeve 232 againsta washer 242 mounted on the upper end of the shaft 234 by a screw 244.

The blade holders 206 and 208 have blade receiving recesses 250 in theiradjacent faces and the wire cutter blades 210 and insulation cutterblades 212 are mounted therein and positioned as desired by spacers 252,254, 256 and 258, two of which, 254 and 256, are recessed to hold thespring fingers 214 which act as insulation knock outs. The blades 210and 212 and spacers 252, 254, 256 and 258 are held in place by lock pins260 extending longitudinally through the blade holders 206 and 208 heldin place by set screws 262. The two wire cutter blades 210 are identicaland are shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 and have cooperating V- shaped cuttingedges 264. As shown in FIG. 9 these blades 210 are disposed back to backso that the cutting edges 264 are in substantially the same plane. Theinsulation cutter blades 212 are also identical and are shown in detailin FIGS. 14 to 16. Each has a semicircular cutting edge 266 and has aprojecting portion 268 at one side of a horizontal centerline and arelief 270 at the opposite side of the centerline adapted to receive theprojection 268 of the other blade 212 when such other blade is invertedrelative to the first one, as shown in FIG. 9 so that the blades 212 arein back to back relation. As there shown, their cutting edges 266 aredisposed in what may be called the central or midplane of the blade 212.When the blade holders 206 and 208 are moved to their'closed position,the wire cutter blades 210 completely sever the wire and the insulationcutter blades 212 cut through the insulation and the cutting edges 266define an opening through which the wire conductor extends. To providefor accurate positioning of these blades 212 in the holders 206 and 208they are provided with chamfered corners 272 against which act setscrews 274 mounted in the holders 206 and 208.

The end portion of insulation thus cut is stripped from the wire bybodily movement of the cut and strip assembly 30 off the end of the cutwire or to the right as viewed in FIG. 3. This bodily movement iseffected as follows. During the first portion of the downward movementof the actuator member 128 in addition to closing the clamp 42 on thewire, the cut and strip assembly 30 moves with the member 128 until itseats upon a cut and strip anvil member 280 which supports the assembly30 in position to close on the wire. As the member 128 continuesdownwardly the cam surfaces 200 and 202 of the cam plates 188 and 190cooperate with the blade holder cam surfaces 222 and 224 to close theblade holders 206 and 208 and cut the wire and insulation. During thismovement the pins 204 ride up in vertically extending lower end portionsof the slots 198. As the actuating member 128 continues downward thepins 204 move through the inclined intermediate portions of the slots198 and are cammed to the right as viewed in FIG. 3 carrying the cut andstrip assembly 30 bodily to the right and stripping the cut insulationoff the cut end of the wire. The anvil member 280 is secured to theupper base 122 by screws 282 and is accurately positioned relativethereto by keys 284 secured to the anvil 280 and received in a keyway286 in the upper base 122.

The terminal feed assembly 32 moves the end terminal 34 of the terminalstrip 36 into position on a terminal anvil assembly 290 (see FIGS. 3 and5) supported on the upper base 122 and secured to the cut and stripanvil 280 by screws 292. The terminal anvil assembly 290 cooperates withthe terminal crimp and cut off assembly 42 and comprises a holder body294 which carries an insulation crimp anvil 296 and a conductor crimpanvil 298 both of which are mounted on the body 294 by a screw 300. Thebody 294 also carries a pair of square cut off plates 302 recessed inthe upper surface thereof at opposite sides of the anvils 296 and 298and a pair of rectangular cut off plates 304 secured to the oppositesides thereof. The body 294 also carries a fifth cut off plate 306recessed in the opposite side thereof from the anvils 296 and 298.

The crimp and cut off assembly 42 is shown in detail in FIGS. 17 to 20,is supported (as shown in FIG. 2) at the upper side of the upperhorizontal portion of the C-shaped actuator member 128 by screws 310extending through the holder body 312 thereof and into the edges of thecam plates 188 and 190. An insulation crimp blade 314 and a conductorcrimp blade 316 are mounted on the body 312 by a screw 318. A slot 320is provided in the blade 314 through which the screw 318 extends topermit vertical adjustment of the blade 314 which is controlled by a dogpoint set screw 322 which may be locked in place by a nut 324. The crimpblades 314 and 316 cooperate with the anvils 296 and 298 to secure theterminal 34 to the end of the wire.

For cutting the terminal 34 from the strip 36 the cut off and crimpassembly 40 includes a front cut off blade 326, a rear cut off blade 328and a side cut off blade 330. The blade 326 cooperates with one of theplates 302 at the stationary head 20 and with the other of the plates302 at the movable head 22. Similarly, the blade 330 cooperates with oneof the plates 304 at the head 20 and with the other at the head 22. Thefront cut off blade 326 is carried by a holder 332 adjustably mounted onthe body 312 by a screw 334 having a threaded engagement with the holder332 and held against longitudinal movement relative to the body 312 by apin 336 extending into an annular relief 338 on the screw 334, the pin336 being held in place by a set screw 340. The blade 326 is adjustablerelative to the holder 332 by a screw 342 which has a threadedengagement with the blade 326 and is held against longitudinal movementin the body 312 by a dog point set screw 344. To permit this latteradjustment the aperture 346 through which the screw 348 extends to mountthe blade 326 on the holder 332 is elongated in the direction of thescrew 342.

The rear cut off blade 328 is mounted on a holder 350 by a screw 352 andthe holder 350 is adjustably mounted on the body 312 by a screw 354threadedly engaging the holder 350 and held against longitudinalmovement in the body 312 by a dog point set screw 356. For locking thescrew 354 in adjusted position a cone-pointed lock pin 358 is mounted inthe body 312 for applying downward pressure on the holder 350 inresponse to movement of a cone-pointed set screw 360.

The side out off blade 330 is mounted on a holder 362 by a screw 364 andthe holder 362 is mounted on the body 312 by a screw 366. Adjustment ofthe holder 362 relative to the body 312 may be effected, when the screw366 is loosened, by a screw 368 threadedly engaging the holder 362 andheld against longitudinal movement in the body 31 2 by a dog point setscrew 370. To permit such adjustment the aperture in the body 312through which the screw 366 extends is elongated in the direction of thescrew 368 and the aperture in the holder 362 through which the set screw370 extends to engage the screw 368 is also elongated in the directionof the screw 368.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, the terminal feed assembly 32comprises a housing 380 mounted on the upper base 122 and securedthereto by screw 382. The housing 380v extends at right angles to thesupport cylinder 24 adjacent the actuator member 128 and at an elevationadapted to feed terminals onto the terminal anvil assembly 290. Mountedon the housing 380 is a terminal feed plate 384 adapted to support theterminal strip 36 as it is fed toward the terminal anvil 290, the edgesof the strip 36 being confined under guides 386 and 388 overlyingopposite edge portions of the plate 384. Below the plate 384 theterminal feed housing 380 carries a pawl slide 390 having an actuatingpin 392 extending laterally through a slot 394 in the side of thehousing 380 and riding ina generally vertical slot 396 in a cam plate398 carried by the actuator members 128. A pawl holder 400 carries apawl 402 pivotally supported thereon by a pivot pin 404 and urgedupwardly by a spring 406, to its operative position illustrated in whichthe pawl 402 projects through a slot 408 in the, plate 384 for engagingthe terminal strip 36 during movement of the pawl slide 390 to the rightas viewed in FIG. 2. During movement in the opposite direction the pawl402 pivots down and moves along the underside of the terminal strip.Adjustment of the pawl 402 is provided by a screw 410 threadedly mountedin the pawl slide 390 and having its inner end connected to the pawlholder 400 for longitudinal movement, therewith while permittingrotation relative thereto. The screw 410 may be locked in position by anut 412. To provide a desired amount of drag against free movement ofthe terminal strip 36 and hold it in the position to which it is fed bythe pawl 402 and to hold the strip during return movement of the pawl402, a rectangular drag plate 414 is recessed in the guide strip 388 andthe terminal feed plate 384 and is provided with a pair of springs 416for urging it against the adjacent edge of the terminal strip 36. Thedrag plate 414 may be manually retracted, as during threading of theterminal strip 36 along the terminal feed plate 384, by a pin 418extending upwardly through a slot 420 provided in the guide strip 388.

Removal of scrap terminal strip pieces from the terminal anvil 290 isfacilitated by the provision of an air nozzle 430 (see FIG. 3) mountedin the cut and strip anvil 280 and to which air may be supplied througha passage 432 therein.

In' operation of the apparatus fluid is supplied to the cylinders 24 and144 through suitable conduits and in response to suitable controls foreffecting operation of the apparatus as described herein. What may becalled the starting position is generally as illustrated in FIG. 3,except for the piston 50, which to facilitate illustration thereof isshown adjacent the right hand limit of its travel whereas its correctposition for this condition is at the left hand limit of its travel, andexcept for the nozzle assembly 44 which is shown for illustrativepurposes in a position in which it stops termporarily as hereindescribed during its return movement. Its starting position is furtherto the right than illustrated'in FIG. 3. In the starting position themovable head 22, not illustrated in FIG. 3, is in the same position asthe stationary head 20 there illustrated. One end of an insulated wireis lead from a suitable source of supply through a wire straightener 440(see FIG. 3) carried on an arm 442 secured to the bracket 58 on theright hand end of the support cylinder 24. The wire is then insertedthrough the nozzle assembly 44 from right to left so that it projectsbeyond the end of the nozzle 92. When operation of the apparatus is theninitiated, fluid is supplied to the cylinder 24 to the left of thepiston 50 causing the shuttle 46 to be moved to the left by the cable 62and to carry the nozzle assembly 44 to the left through the stationaryhead 20 and toward the movable head 22, which is illustrated at theright hand side in FIG. 1. As the nozzle assembly approaches the head 22the nozzle stop 96 engages the target plate 98 carried by the clamp 42sliding the nozzle 92 into the body 88 and exposing a length of the wirewhich projects beyond the clamp 42 into the head 22. The shuttle nosepiece 74 carries a target plate 444 adjustably mounted thereon by locknuts 446 and which engages a switch (not shown) which stops the supplyto fluid to the cylinder 24 and initiates the operation of the head 22by supplying fluid to the cylinder 144 thereof. As the shuttle assembly46 approaches this limit of its travel the shuttle nose piece 74 entersan aperture 448 in a shuttle guide 450 formed on the upper base member122 of the head 22 which also provides the stop determining the positionof the shuttle assembly 46 at this limit of its travel.

During the initial operation of the head 22 the clamp 42 thereof isclosed to grip the wire. After operation of the terminal crimping andcut off assembly 40 a switch is actuated to supply fluid under pressureto the opposite end of the cylinder 24 causing the shuttle assembly 46to return toward the head 20 and its starting position. Throughout thisreturn movement the wire is held by the clamp 42 of the head 22 andnozzle assembly 44 freely slides along the wire. As the shuttle assembly46 approaches its starting position it is temporarily stopped in theposition in which the nozzle assembly 44 is positioned as illustrated inFIG. 3. For effecting this stop the support 78 (see FIG. 7) mounted onthe shuttle bar 66 which carries the nozzle assembly 44 also carries ashuttle reverse travel stop 452 pivotally mounted thereon by a bolt 454and movable between its normal horizontal position illustrated and inwhich it is yieldably held by spring 456, and a counter clockwisepivoted position in which it stops against inclined surface 458. Theabove mentioned temporary or initial stop of the shuttle assembly 46 iseffected by a pad 460 on the reverse travel stop 452 engaging a wearplate 462 on the shuttle guide 450 of the head 20 (see FIG. 4) when thereturn travel stop 452 is in its normal position illustrated. At thesame time a switch is operated initiating operation of the head 20 bysupplying fluid to the cylinder 140 thereof: During the initial movementof the head 20 the clamp 42 thereof closes to grip the wire.

The remainder of the operation of the heads 20 and 22 is identicalexcept as noted below. As the head actuating member 128 of each headcontinues its downward movement after closing its clamp 42 to hold thewire, the cut and strip assembly 30 is lowered onto the anvil 280 andactuated to cut the wire and to cut the insulation in spaced relationfrom the cut end of the wire and strip the cut piece of insulation fromthe end of the wire. The closing of the cut and strip assembly 30 iseffected by the cam plates 188 and 190 through the cooperation of theircam surfaces 200 and 202 with the cam surfaces 222 and 224 on the cutterblade holders 206 and 208. To accurately control the length of theproduct and to accurately position the end of wire and insure properstripping, the wire is cut at both ends although only a short piece iscut off at the leading end by the head 22. The insulation is strippedfrom the wire by the bodily movement of the cutter blade holders to theright as viewed in FIG. 3 by the cooperation of the pins 204 with thecam slots 198 in the cam plates 188 and 190.

Also, during the downward movement of the head actuating member 128 theterminal feed assembly 32 feeds the end terminal 34 of the terminalstrip 36 into position on the terminal anvil assembly 290. It will beappreciated that a wide variety of different terminals may be employedand that the components of the terminal anvil assembly 290 and of theterminal crimping and cutting assembly 40 may be varied in form andposition for use with differing terminals and terminal strips. Actuationof the terminal feed assembly 32 as the actuating member 128 movedownwardly is by the cam plate 398 which through the cooq,Fon throughdownwardly is by the cam plate 398 which through the of its cam slot 396with the pin 392 advances the pawl slide 390 and pawl 402 to the rightas seen FIG. 2 along the terminal plate 384.

After the terminal feed assembly 32 has fed the end terminal intoposition on the terminal anvil assembly 290 the wire is lowered intoposition in the terminal 34. This is effected through the pin 150carried by the head actuating member 128 as the pin 150, after reachingthe lower ends of the slots 166 and 168 in the clamp arms 152 and 154,continues to move downwardly and pulls the clamp 42 downwardly and movesthe wire held thereby down into the terminal 34. At the head 22, wherethis operation takes place before the nozzle assembly 44 starts itsreturn toward the head 20, the pivotal mounting of the nozzle assembly44 on the support 78 permits the lowering of the wire end into theterminal 34 without excessive bending of the wire. To further assist inpreventing sharp bending of the wire the clamp 42 of the head 22 carriesa hook 451 which pulls the end of the nozzle 92 down as the clamp 42moves down. This does not occur at the head 20 since the nozzle assembly44 returns through the head 20, the clamp 42 thereof closes to hold thewire and the cut and strip assembly is actuated before the wire end islowered into the terminal 34 by the clamp 42. Also, it will beappreciated that is desired the return movement of the shuttle 46 may beinitiated as soon as the clamp 42 of the head 22 is closed, in whichevent the hook 451 and the pivotal mounting of the nozzle assembly 44may be eliminated.

In the final downward movement of the head actuating member 128 theterminal crimp and cut assembly 40 moves down to cooperate with theterminal anvil assembly 290 to crimp the terminal 34 to the bare wireend and to the adjacent insulation and to cut the terminal 34 from theterminal strip 36.

Also during this downward movement of the head actuating member 128 ofthe head 20 the pivoted shuttle return stop 452 is disengaged from thewear plate 462 against which it initially stopped, by an adjustable stoprelease member in the form of a screw 464 threaded in the lower end of asleeve 466 carried by a support 468 secured to the member 128 as shownin FIG. 4. In this preliminary stop position the shuttle bullet nose 76(see FIG. 7) has entered the aperture 448 in the shuttle guide 450 ofthe upper base member 122 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). The disengagement of thepivoted stop 452 is effected by the screw 464 coming down on a wear pad468 mounted at the other end of the pivoted stop 452 from the pad 460.The stop release member 464 is adjusted so that is will trip the pivotedstop 452 as soon as the blades 210 of the cut strip assembly 30 have cutthe wire. Upon this unlocking of the pivoted stop 452 the shuttleassembly 46 continues its movement carrying the nozzle assembly 44further to the right, beyond the position illustrated in FIG. 3 avoidingany interference by it with the operation of head 20. The final stopposition of the shuttle assembly 46 and the nozzle assembly 44 carriedthereby is determined by engagement of the end of the square shuttle bar66 and the bracket 78 carried thereby with the shuttle guide 450 of thehead 20. The stop release member 464 and its mounting, and the pivotedreturn stop member 452 are shown in broken lines in FIG. 3 forillustrative purposes although they are actually located ahead of thesection, their actual position being shown in full lines in FIG. 4.

As the actuating member 128 of each head returns to its raised positionas a result of the reversal of the fluid pressure in the cylinderthereof, which preferably occurs simultaneously in both of the cylinders140, the clamp 42 thereof releases the wire and is returned to itsraised position illustrated, by the springs and cut and strip assembly30 is returned to its open position through the cooperation of thespreader 216 and the plate 230. For continuous operation when the headmembers 128 return to their raised positions the pressure in thecylinder 24 is reversed and another cycle is started.

The above described apparatus also has the advantage of readily lendingitself to adjustment of the length of wire to be cut simply by looseningthe bolts 124 which clamp the upper and lower base members 120 and 122together to grip the cylinder 24. It will be appreciated, of course,that any other suitable means may be employed for clamping the head inthe desired position of adjustment on the cylinder 24.

harnesses such for example as that illustrated in FIG.

30. It will be appreciated, of course, that harnesses having additionalwires and terminals may be readily made by modifying the apparatus toprovide the necessary heads and wire feed mechanisms. In the harness 500there illustrated it will be noted that the wires 502 and 504 may be ofdifferent lengths, as there illustrated, and the adjacent ends of thetwo wires are connected to a common terminal 506. The other ends of thewires 502 and 504 have individual terminals 508 and 510 connectedthereto.

The heads 512, 514 and 516 employed in this embodiment of the inventionare generally the same as the heads 20 and 22 except as described below.More specifically, the heads 512 and 514 are the same as the head 22except that the clamp 42' thereof does not include the target plate 98which is provided on the clamp 42 of the head 22, and except for thefact that the cut and strip assembly 30' of the head 512 has differentlyshaped insulation cutting and stripping blades 212' as hereinafterdescribed. Also, the clamp jaws 162' of the head 512 have alongitudinally extending groove 517 to receive the wire as hereinafterdescribed. The head 516 is generally the same as the head 20. In thisembodiment of the invention the heads 512, 514 and 516 are supported ona base frame 518 through rod sections 520, 522 and 524 which correspondin size and external configuration to the cylinder 24 upon which theheads 20 and 22 of the above described embodiment are mounted. In thisembodiment the head 512 is called the stationary head and the heads 514and 516 are adjusted along their supporting rod sections 522 and 524 toprovide the desired length of the wires 502 and 504.

The heads 514 and 516 have associated therewith wire feed mechanismsgenerally indicated at 526 and 528 which are identical except that oneis symmetrically opposite to the other, and, accordingly, only the wirefeed mechanism 526 is described and illustrated in detail herein. Thesewire feed mechanisms 526 and 528 are each-adapted to pull a length ofwire from a continuous source of supply through wire straighteners 440,and through heads 514 and 516, and to feed the leading end portionsthereof through a combining unit 530 to position the ends of the wiresin the head 512 in position to be gripped by the clamp 42 thereof. Inthis embodiment, after the clamp 42 of the head 512 grips the leadingends of the wires 502 and 504, the wire feed mechanisms 526 and 528start their return travel toward the heads 514 and 516 and move throughthe heads 514 and 516 prior to the closing of the clamps 42 thereof tohold the wires.

As is best seen in FIG. 21 these feed mechanisms 526 and 528 form a V asreviewed from above, with the wiring combining unit 530 at the point ofthe V. Referring to FIG. 31 it will be seen that the feed mechanism 526is mounted on the base 518 by end brackets 532 and 534. The rod sections522 and 524 are also mounted on the base 518 parallel to and outwardlyof the feed mechanisms 526 and 528.

The feed mechanism 526 includes a fluid clyinder 536 having end caps 538and 540 provided with connections 542, 544, 546 and 548 through whichfluid may flow to and from the opposite ends of the cylinder Within thecylinder 536 the piston, 550 is connected to a piston rod 552 whichextends outwardly through the rear cylinder cap 540 and is connected bya tie plate 554 to a ridigdly drive rod 556 which extends parallel toand in spaced relation above the cylinder 536. The rod 556 extendsthrough and is guided by a plate 558 mounted on the cylinder end cap540. At its forward end the rod 556 is connected to a shuttle 560 whichis slidably mounted on a way 562 having a depending plate portion 564extending through a slot 566 in the shuttle 560 to maintain it alignedrelative to the way 562. The way 562 is disposed between and parallel tothe cylinder 536 and the shuttle drive rod 556 and is ridigly mounted inthe plate 558 at its rear end and at its forward end in a mounting plate568 secured to the front cylinder cap 538.

The nozzle assembly 570 is generally similar to the nozzle assembly 44of the above described embodiment and is supported on the shuttle 560 byan offset bracket 572 which extends laterally relative to the feedmechanism 526 so as to support the nozzle assembly 570, parallel to anddirectly over the head supporting rod section 522 and aligned with thehead 514 so that upon the feed mechanism 526 returning through the head514 it positions the wire for gripping and holding by the clamp 42thereof. The nozzle assembly 570 is mounted on the bracket 572 in thesame manner that the nozzle assembly 44 is mounted on the bracket 82 anddiffers from the nozzle assembly 44 only in that it does not include thestop 96.

Referring to FIGS. 22 to 36, the combining unit 530 provides abutmentsfor stopping the forward travel to the nozzle 586 of each of the wirefeed mechanisms 526 and 528 so that a length of each wire 502 and 504will be fed into the head 512. The combining unit 530 also serves toaccurately position the nozzles 586 and to guide the wires as they movetoward the head 512 so that they will be positioned between the clampjaws 162' in position to be received in the grooves 517 when the clamp42' closes. In this embodiment the combining unit 530 has a base 574mounted on the rod support 520 closely adjacent the clamp 42' of thehead 512. Base 574 has an upwardly extending pedestal portion 576 on thetop of which is mounted a head 577 of generally inverted T-shape (seeFIG. 24) and having a vertically disposed flange 578 positioned tobisect the angle between the nozzles 586. A pair of inner guide plates582 are secured t opposite sides of the flange 578 at the mide-portionthereof by a bolt 580 extending through a vertically extending slot 592in the flange. The guide plate 582 has a cylindrical surface 588 adaptedto receive and accurately position the end of the nozzle 586. It alsohas a conically shaped guide surface 584 for guiding the nozzle 586 intothe cylindrical surface 588. To the right of the guide plate 582 (seeFIG. 25) a cylindrical surface 589 is formed in the flange 578 and thevertical adjustment of the guideplate 582 permitted by the slot 592permits alignment of the cylindrical surfaces 588 and 589. At the inner.manner the flange 578 beyond (to the right in FIG. 25)

the shoulder 590 has a slightly curved surface 593 having a groove 594adapted to receive and guide the wire.

1. A lead making apparatus adapted to draw wire from a source of supplycomprising first and second Head mechanisms each adapted to cut thewire, strip insulation from one end thereof and secure a terminalthereto and including a clamp for holding the wire, means supportingsaid head mechanisms for accurate adjustment of the distancetherebetween for accurately adjusting the length of the lead to be made,and means for feeding wire from said source of supply to said headmechanisms to extend therebetween and be held by said clamps thereof. 2.A lead making apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first namedmeans supports said second head mechanism in fixed relation thereto andsupports said first head mechanism for movement toward and away fromsaid second head mechanism and includes means for securing said firsthead mechanism against movement along said support menas.
 3. A leadmaking apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for feedingwire is mounted on said first named means.
 4. An insulated wireprocessing apparatus adapted to draw wire from a source of supply,comprising spaced first and second head mechanisms each operable to cutthe wire, strip insulation from one end thereof and secure a terminalthereto and including a clamp for holding the wire, a wire feed nozzle,means operable to move said nozzle through said second head mechanismand toward said first head mechanism to position a length of wirebetween and in said head mechanisms and to return said nozzle throughsaid second head mechanism to grip the wire between said length of wireand the source of supply of the wire prior to operation of said secondhead mechanism to cut the wire, and means for operating said headmechanisms and said means.
 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 whereinsaid nozzle includes chuck means for gripping said wire to preventmovement of said wire relative to said nozzle in a direction from saidfirst head mechanism toward said second head mechanism while permittingrelative movement in the opposite direction.
 6. An insulated wireprocessing apparatus adapted to draw wire from a source of supplycomprising spaced first and second head mechanisms each adapted to cutthe wire, strip insulation from one end thereof and secure a terminalthereto and including a clamp for holding the wire, a wire feed nozzleadapted to receive the wire therethrough and ahving chuck means forgripping said wire during movement of said nozzle toward said firsthead, means for moving said nozzle toward said first head to positionone end of said wire in said first head and for moving said nozzletoward and through said second head to position said wire in said secondhead and to position said nozzle chuck to grip said wire between thelocation of the cut made by said second head and the source of supply ofthe wire.
 7. An insulated wire processing apparatus as defined in claim6 including means supporting said head mechanisms for movement relativeto each other for varying the length of the wires produced by theapparatus.
 8. An insulated wire processing apparatus as defined in claim6 including means for supporting said heads in spaced relation andwherein said means for moving said nozzle is mounted on said means forsupporting said head mechanisms.
 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8wherein said supporting means includes an elongated cylinder extendingbetween and to which said heads are secured and wherein said means formoving said nozzle includes a piston movable in said cylinder and meansconnecting said piston to said nozzle.
 10. An insulated wire processingapparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said heads includes acut and strip die assembly for cutting the wire and cutting andstripping the insulation from an end portion of the wire, means forclosing the clamp on the wire to hold it during the cutting andstripping operation and means for actuating the die assembly to performthe cutting and stripping operation.
 11. An insulated wire processingapparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein each head includes means forpositioning a termiNal therein for attachment to the wire and means forattaching the terminal after the actuation of the cut and strip dieassembly and wherein the clamp holds the wire throughout operation ofthe terminal attaching means.
 12. An insulated wire processing apparatusas defined in claim 11 wherein said means for positioning the terminalpositions it in spaced relation from the position of the wire during theoperation of the cut and strip die assembly and wherein each headincludes means for moving the clamp to position the wire in theterminal.
 13. An insulated wire processing apparatus as defined in claim12 including means supporting said nozzle assembly for pivotal movementto facilitate positioning the wire in the terminal.
 14. An insulatedwire processing apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said feed nozzleincludes a main body carrying said chuck means and a wire support nozzlemounted in said body and yieldably urged to an extended position inwhich it extends toward said first head for supporting the end portionof the wire, and cooperating means on said first head and on said wiresupport nozzle for moving said wire support nozzle into said body toexpose an end portion of said wire for positioning in said first head.15. An insulated wire processing apparatus as defined in claim 6 whereinsaid means for moving said nozzle includes a shuttle movable betweensaid heads, means mounting said nozzle on said shuttle, and cooperatingguide means on said shuttle and oneach of said heads for accuratelypositioning said nozzle as said shuttle approaches each of said heads.16. An insulated wire processing apparatus as defined in claim 8including cooperating aligning means on said cylinder and on each ofsaid heads maintaining said heads aligned with each other, and whereinsaid means for moving said nozzle includes a shuttle having a shuttleguide mounted on said cylinder, including aligning means on said shuttleguide cooperating with the aligning means on said cylinder, and meansmounting said nozzle on said shuttle.
 17. A nozzle assembly for use infeeding wire in a wire processing apparatus and comprising a body, atubular nozzle mounted in said body and extending outwardly beyond oneend of said body, means in said body urging said nozzle to a fullyextended position, said body and said nozzle having aligned therethroughfor receiving a wire extending through said nozzle assembly, chuck meansin said body for gripping the wire, said nozzle being movable into saidbody to expose a length of the wire.
 18. A nozzle assembly as defined inclaim 17 wherein said chuck means includes means for holding said bodyagainst movement along the wire in the direction in which said nozzleextends from said body while permitting movement of said body along thewire in the opposite direction.
 19. A nozzle assembly as defined inclaim 17 wherein said nozzle includes an abutment extending laterallyadapted to be engaged to move said nozzle into said body, andcooperating means on said nozzle and said body for preventing rotationof said nozzle relative to said body.
 20. A nozzle assembly as definedin claim 17 wherein said chuck means comprises means defining a jawcavity in said body opening into the wire receiving passage in said bodyand having a cam surface inclined relative to said passage, a jawelement disposed in said cavity and movable in one direction along saidcam surface for locking the wire against movement in said one directionrelative to said body, and means yieldably urging said jaw in said onedirection.
 21. A head mechanism for use in an insulated wire processingapparatus comprising a base, a head reciprocably mounted on said base, acut and strip assembly mounted on said head and comprising spaced bladeholders, wire cutter blades mounted in said holders, insulation cut andstrip blades mounted in said holders in spaced relation to said wirecutter blades, cooperating means on said base and head effective on apredetermined movement of Said head relative to said base to move saidholders between an open position and a closed position in which theinsulation cut and strip blade is positioned to have cut substantiallythrough the insulation but not through the wire.
 22. A head mechanism asdefined in claim 21 in which said cooperating means is effective upon afurther predetermined movement of said head relative to said base tobodily move said cut and strip assembly in a direction causing saidinsulation cut and strip blades to strip the cut insulation off the endof the wire.
 23. A head mechanism as defined in claim 25 in which saidcooperating means includes means on said head for supporting said cutand strip assembly in a raised inoperative position and for loweringsaid cut and strip assembly to an operative position in response tomovement of said head relative to said base.
 24. In an insulated wireprocessing apparatus a head mechanism including a clamp having jawsmovable between an open position and a closed position in which theclamp is adapted to support an insulated wire on a predetermined line insaid head mechanism, said head also including a cut and strip assemblyadapted to cut the wire and to cut and strip insulation and movablebetween an operative position and an inoperative position, a wire feednozzle, means for moving said nozzle along said predetermined linethrough said head mechanism past said cut and strip assembly when in itsinoperative position and between the jaws of said clamp when in theiropen position to position a length of wire beyond said clamp in adirection away from said cut and strip assembly and returning saidnozzle along said length of wire and past said open jaws of said clampand through said head mechanism to a position in which it supports saidwire on said predetermined line, means for operating said head mechanismto move said clamp jaws to said closed position and move said cut andstrip assembly to its operative position.
 25. The combination defined inclaim 24 wherein said inoperative position of said assembly is spacedfrom said predetermined line to prevent interference with movement ofsaid nozzle through said head mechanism.
 26. The combination defined inclaim 24 including means for stopping said return movement of saidnozzle when said nozzle is in said position in which it supports saidwire, means for actuating said cut and strip assembly to cut the wire,and means effective when the wire has been cut to effect further returnmovement of said nozzle through said head.
 27. The combination definedin claim 26 including means for actuating said cut and strip assembly tocut the insulation and strip it from the wire after the wire has beencut and after operation of the means for effecting further returnmovement of the nozzle.
 28. A wire feed mechanism for use in a wireprocessing apparatus and comprising a nozzle assembly for feeding wireto position it in the apparatus including a chuck having means forautomatically gripping a wire to prevent movement along the wire in onedirection and for automatically releasing its grip on the wire uponmovement along the wire in the opposite direction.
 29. A wire feedmechanism as defined in claim 28 wherein said nozzle assembly includes anozzle mounted for movement toward and away from said chuck, themovement toward said chuck being in said opposite direction so that alength of wire is projected beyond the end of said nozzle.
 30. A wirefeed mechanism as defined in claim 29 wherein said nozzle assemblyincludes a nozzle body having said chuck mounted adjacent one endthereof and said nozzle mounted in the other end thereof for telescopingmovement relative thereto, and means yieldably urging said nozzleoutwardly relative to said body.
 31. A cut and strip assembly forapparatus for processing insulated wire to attach the ends of two wiresto a single terminal and in which apparatus the two wires are supportedin parallel side by side relation, said cut and strip assembLycomprising a pair of blade holders movable between an open position anda closed position, a pair of insulation cut and strip blades mounted insaid holders, said blades having cooperating cutting edges which whensaid holders are in their closed position define an opening having awidth substantially equal to the diameter of the conductor of the wireand having a length substantially equal to the combined diameters of theconductors of the two wires, the cutting edges having opposedsemi-circular portions adapted to closely fit the side of each conductorremote from the other conductor when the holders are in the closedposition.